Obituary of Helen Mae Johnson

Helen Mae Johnson, 80 of Niles, received her eternal reward on July 8, 2020, at Select Specialty Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek. She was born on October 10, 1939, in Osceola, Arkansas to the late Booker T. and Helen D (Davis) Washington. Helen, a homemaker most of her life, enjoyed cooking for holidays, special events, and church events; she could cook anything from ham hocks to peach cobbler with no recipe, always from her heart. Helen enjoyed watching Lifetime movies and westerns. She was a faithful member of New Vision Apostolic Church, where she has served as the custodian for over forty years, retiring last year. Helen will also be remembered as a kind soul, always providing a place for someone to sleep who was in need. Helen married O.C. Johnson in Arkansas at a very early age, they later moved to Niles where they started a family, giving birth to little O.C. Jr. and losing a baby girl through the journey. However, she gained a daughter on July 4, 2004, after the late O.C. passed. Helen found comfort in giving her daughter, Tytiana Johnson, a home, adopting her, and raising her as her own. Helen moved from super-mom to super-grandma, giving love to 3 grand-babies. Josiah, being her favorite, brought her immense joy. She cherished every moment she could get with her loved ones. Helen is preceded in death by her parents; husband, O.C. Johnson; three brothers, Oscar Lee Washington, Booker T. Washington Jr., and Robert Washington; daughter, Pamela Smoot-Moon; and her best friend, Ruby Reed. She leaves to remember her, sons, O.C. Johnson Jr. of South Bend, Premail (Patricia) Freeman of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Cornell (Alberta) Grayer of Memphis, Tennessee, and Orlando Johnson of San Francisco, California; daughters, Tytiana Johnson of Niles, Marvita Fleming of Lake In The Hills, Illinois, Theresa (Daniel) Graves of Lakewood, California, Darlene (Cyril) Quinn of South Bend, Rochele (Jerry) Hubbard of South Bend; grandchildren, Olanna Johnson, Markayla Nicholas, Orlando Johnson, Nichole Fleming, Aaron Smoot, Shanita Allan, Dewayne Smoot, Armondo Carr, Jermaine Carr, Cornell Grayer Jr., Ralonda Hawkins, Ike Grayer, Tyran Allen, and Ariana Hubbard; and 14 great-grandchildren. A homegoing celebration will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020, at Brown Funeral Home, Niles at 11:00 a.m. with a time of visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery.